NEWBORN CARE

The birth of a baby is one of life’s most wondrous moments. Few experiences compare to this event. Newborn babies have amazing abilities, such as being able to recognize their own mother’s voice and know her unique scent, yet they are dependent on others for feeding, warmth and comfort.

Amazing physical changes occur with birth. When the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is cut and clamped near the navel. This ends the baby’s dependence on the placenta for oxygen and nutrition. The baby’s blood flow changes so more blood now goes to his/her lungs to support breathing and oxygenation. Mother’s milk is now the most optimal source of nutrition and your breasts will produce colostrum to give a nutrient-rich first meal within the first hour after birth.

A newborn baby is wet from the amniotic fluid and can easily become cold. Drying the baby and placing a baby skin-to-skin on the mother’s chest or abdomen is the best way to keep the baby stable and warm. This early skin-to-skin contact also reduces crying, improves motherinfant bonding and helps mothers and babies be more successful at breastfeeding. If a baby cannot be skin-to-skin with mother or father, a warm blanket or a heat lamp will be used to provide warmth.

Immediate Care for the Newborn

Health assessments of the new baby start right away. One of the first checks is the Apgar score. The Apgar score is a way to evaluate the condition of the newborn at one minute and five minutes after birth. The healthcare providers present at the birth will evaluate the following signs and assign a point value:

• Muscle tone

• Heart rate

• Reflex; responsiveness

• Skin color (pink/blue)

• Respiration

Physical Exam of the Newborn in the Delivery Room

A brief, physical exam is done to check for obvious signs that the baby is healthy. Other procedures will be done over the next hours. These may be done in the delivery room or later in the mother’s postpartum room, depending on the condition of the baby. Some of these procedures include:

ID bracelets

Before a baby leaves the delivery area, ID bracelets with matching numbers are placed on the baby, mother and father. Babies often have two, on the wrist and ankle. These should be checked each time the baby comes or goes from your room.

Birth weight

A baby’s birth weight is an important marker of health. The average weight for full-term babies is about seven pounds (3.2 kg). Newborn babies may lose 5% of their birth weight in the first few days of life before they begin to gain weight.

Care for the Newborn After Delivery

Healthy babies are usually able to be placed immediately in skin-to-skin contact on their mother’s chest. In the first hour or two after birth, most babies are alert and wide awake. A baby will turn to the familiar sound of a voice and is best able to see about eight to 12 inches, just the distance to a caregiver holding him/her.

This first hour or two after birth is the best time to start breastfeeding. Babies have a natural ability to start nursing within the first hour after birth. This first feeding helps to stimulate breast milk production. It’s the perfect nutrition for the baby and passes on antibodies from mother to baby to help prevent some infections. It also causes contraction of the mother’s uterus which can help prevent excessive bleeding.

When a Baby Has Trouble After Birth

All the baby’s body systems must work together in a new way after birth. If there are signs the baby is not doing well, treatment can be given right in the delivery room. The doctor and other members of the healthcare team work together to help the baby.

Newborn babies who need intensive medical care are often admitted into a special area of the hospital called the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The NICU combines advanced technology and trained health professionals to give specialized care for the tiniest and sickest babies.

The medical team will work together with you to support your baby’s quickest and healthiest recovery.

Proper bathing and skin care for your newborn

In the hospital:

A newborn’s skin is soft and delicate. Usually the first hair wash is given in the mother’s postpartum room after the baby is at least 24 hours old. This gives the baby and mother time to recover from birth, leaves the protective vernix on the baby’s skin for a few more hours, and protects the baby from stress, cold and low glucose levels.

At home:

Most babies do not need a bath every single day. With all the diaper changes and wiping of the mouth and nose after feedings, most babies may only need to be bathed two or three times a week.

To prevent infection, bathing in a tub of water should not be done until the baby’s umbilical cord falls off and a baby boy’s circumcision heals. When doing a sponge bath keep the baby covered except for the area you are cleaning, this will help the baby stay warm.

Be sure to check the temperature of the water to make sure it is not too hot or too cold. Be sure your hot water heater is turned down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burn injuries.

You can wash your baby’s hair by wetting and then gently washing with shampoo, stimulating the entire scalp; this will help to prevent cradle cap. Cradle cap is a build up of dead skin which can happen easily in babies. Consult your pediatrician if your baby develops noticeable cradle cap.

NEVER leave your baby alone in the tub or near water, even to answer the phone or doorbell.